160 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. / 



peaches, which I sold at one dollar per bushel at the orchard. I have har- 

 vested a good crop each year since. I found we were still in the peach 

 belt, and have now an interest in several orchards in that vicinity. My 

 ambition is to see all the elevations in that part of the county, where land 

 is cheap, so utilized for peach-growing and for other fruits, as to require a 

 fruit train and cheaper rates, as you have here in Law ton. 



PROFITS. 



For the encouragement of those who wish to engage in peach cult- 

 ure, I have gathered some statistics from growers, which I think fully 

 reliable and quite satisfactory, especially when compared with results of 

 common or general farming. 



Mr. O. R. Schuyler, who lives in the township adjoining my home, on 

 the west, writes me, under date of Dec. 18, 1893, saying: On 1,000 trees, 

 in 1891, which had been four years set, I harvested 2,000 bushels; on the 

 same trees, in 1892, 2,500; in 1893, 3,000; in all, 7,500. They averaged one 

 dollar per bushel. 



William Crosby of Gobleville, who owns an eighty-acre farm on one 

 of the greatest elevations in Pinegrove township, adjoining us on the east, 

 harvested from one field of his farm, in 1890, peaches which sold for 

 $800; in 1891 he harvested 1,471 bushels, which sold at a profit of $1,835; 

 in 1892 he had mislaid his sales account; in 1893, from ten acres, he sold 

 1,162 bushels for $1,509.20, a total for two years of $3,344.20. Expense 

 of picking and hauling should be deducted. 



Homer Crosby, a brother, whose farm adjoins William's, has been very 

 particular to keep accurately the account with his farm, and particularly 

 with his peach orchard, consisting of about fifteen acres, for the term of 

 eight years, which account is as follows: 



188(), 26.3bu8hel8 - S 560 45 



1887,621 " SI 71 1,065 05 



1888, 745 " 161 1,202 44 



1889, 365 " 2 33 853 76 



1890, 97 " 2 77 265 70 



1891,2185 " 1301^ — . 2,855 57 



1892,1059 " 1 81i| 1,923 36 



1893,1594 " 141 2,267 70 



Total $11,194 03 



This report does not include picking and hauling to Kalamazoo, which 

 was done by himself and hired help. Expense for packages, etc., must also 

 be deducted. 



The Crosbys farm the balance of their land, but claim j)otatoes and fruit 

 to be the only paying crops, and each has purchased trees with which to 

 plant new orchards the coming season. 



I do not wish to convey the impression that every person who sets a 

 peach orchard will accomplish as much, or secure so good results, as those 

 quoted. Some do fail, as in all other avocations. But others I have in 

 mind have accomplished as much, and even more than any here quoted. 



The one idea of most importance, I wish to convey, is the grand oppor- 

 tunity open to all, but more especially to our young people, who are leav- 

 ing home and familiar associations for new and strange fields and surround- 



